We all know that the Cups and Balls, along with the Lota Bowl, are among the earliest forms of magic in world history. But do you know what the earliest form of magic in China was?
The earliest historical record of magic in China dates back over 2000 years to the Han Dynasty in 《百戏》(The Hundred Entertainments). During that time, magic was referred to as “illusionary arts” and included acts such as sword swallowing, fire spitting, and the transformation of animal heads.
Fast forward to today, aside from well-known tricks like the Linking Rings, are there any undiscovered gems waiting to be unearthed? Among the artifacts discovered from the Han Dynasty over 2000 years ago, there is one particular item that once baffled everyone with its incredible and seemingly impossible nature—the “Ink Mirror”. This mirror reflected nonexistent patterns when illuminated, leaving all who saw it perplexed.
Even Premier Zhou Enlai, upon seeing this translucent magic mirror (now displayed in the Shanghai Museum), was left pondering its mysteries.
From the Song Dynasty's Shen Kuo to the Qing Dynasty's Zheng Fuguang, as well as foreign scholars, numerous attempts were made to study and experiment with this ancient artifact, yet all met with little success. Today, Li reutilizes its principles, combining them with magic, and collaborating with Iarvel Magic and Will Magic to introduce: The Moonlight Pocket Watch.
You can experience the crystallization of millennia of wisdom through the trailer.
The magician has the audience remember a playing card, then takes out the pocket watch. The watch, smooth and flawless, with an unmarked mirror surface, reflects the image of a playing card when illuminated with light (using a flashlight on a mobile phone). And the card revealed is the one the audience had in mind.
Everything can be examined before and after the performance. The portable folding mirror has been redesigned, incorporating elements of a pocket watch, a chain, and a frosted finish on the casing for added texture.
The Moonlight Pocket Watch is not just a magical prop; its existence itself is a marvel.
It is the crystallization of millennia of Chinese wisdom, another legacy of magic, a marvelous object that blends enchantment and collectibility.